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Tuesday, 1 December 2009

China Objects To Road Construction In Ladakh


The ongoing road work project at Demchok in south-east Leh in Ladakh under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been stopped after objections were raised by China.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has mentioned that a 8-km road was being developed under NREGS so that connectivity improves along with carving job opportunists for the localities. “We had already constructed 4 km of road when the Chinese came and asked to stop the work. We have stopped work on the road. The road was being built between the T-point and CNN-point. We have already informed the Government of India about it.”

He said the road was being constructed for the local population. “It is an inhabited area and the local villagers were building the road under the NREGS.”

According to sources the report regarding the work has been submitted before the government by Leh Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu.

 “There is a nallah which is the Line of Actual Control in the area and the Chinese are so close that we can talk to them. They constructed a very good parallel road on their side, we didn’t object to that. We have a hot spring on our side where we have started a hydro-therapy centre. Villagers had been demanding a road ahead, all on our side,” said Chering Dorjay, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

“The road was planned under the NREGS. While construction was on, the Chinese shouted at the villagers, asking them to stop work immediately. They (the Chinese) didn’t cross the nallah but they could have easily done that. We must have built three-four kilometres when they stopped our work.”

The information regarding stopping of the work was passed on to Ladakh MP Hassan Khan by village head Tangey Tsering. “I met a few villagers who informed me about this development. Then I received the phone call ten days ago,” he said. 

Monday, 30 November 2009

India’s Silent Sufferers


By: Mamoona Ali Kazmi

According to a recent report of National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB), violence against women is rampant in India, with southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh having the worst record for crimes against women. For the year 2007-08, NCRB recorded 24,738 cases of crimes committed against women including 1,070 cases of rape, 1,564 cases of kidnapping and abduction, 613 cases of dowry deaths and 11,335 cases of domestic violence in Andhra Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has also witnessed a stepping of crime against women with the state recording 21,215 cases of violence including 2,066 cases of dowry death, 1,532 cases of rape and 3,819 cases of kidnapping. The NCRB also highlighted many incidents of rape of minor girls committed by the police personnel. Similarly, Haryana a small state has recorded 4,645 incidents of crime with as many as 269 cases of dowry deaths and 488 cases of rape. Bihar leads in cases of domestic violence with 59 percent of married women suffering domestic violence. The NCRB recorded 7,548 cases of crime with 1,555 rape cases, 1,172 dowry death cases and 1,260 kidnapping and abduction cases in the state. These are the statistics of only the reported cases whereas several cases of violence against women goes unreported due to social stigmas attached to them and due to the fear of reprisals and threats from the culprits.

Women in India suffer at different levels and due to different reasons. Violence against women in India is conducted irrespective of caste and class. Women in general and low caste women in particular are the victims of violence.  Even the Hindu religion does not provide any security to this creature. The Hindu Holy text sanctify the killing of infant girls, by parents who deem themselves not capable of shouldering the responsibility of having a girl child. The Hindu holy book Bhagvad Gita calls women embodiment of the worst desires and justifies the killing of women. “Killing of a woman, a shudra or an atheist is not sinful. Woman is an embodiment of the worst desires, hatred, deceit, jealously and bad character. Women should never be given freedom”. Bhagvad Gita (Manu 1X. 17 and V.47, 147).The modern democratic India follows these religious teachings of hatred and enmity towards women. The change does come but only in the techniques of the violence. In past, in Hindu society new born girls were buried alive now new born baby girls are either strangled to death or aborted during pregnancy. According to a UNICEF report released in December 2006, about 7,000 fewer girls than expected are born daily in India, and about 10 million fewer girls than expected were born in the past 20 years due to sex discrimination.

Women in India are considered a stigma to honour and are victim of almost all kinds of violence such as rape, domestic violence, abduction, dowry deaths and honour killings. The women living in insurgency infested areas are victims of duel violence. On the one hand they are victimized by army personnel and on the other by rival ethnic groups. Similarly, women other than Hindus particularly Muslims and Christians are victims of hate crime.

Not all sexual harassment and rape cases are reported in India. But by considering the reported cases it becomes evident that in India a women is raped every 29th minute. The NCRB unearthed some extremely disturbing trends in India. Statistics suggest that in 2005 around 50 women were raped and 480 molested and abducted every day. The gravity of the problem is that Indian laws are not very strict for such type of violence against women. No capital punishment is awarded in such cases. Apart from harassment, throwing strong acids such sulphuric acid on the face of the girls and women is rampant in India. This is the most heinous and severe punishment deserving crime. There is no separate law to deal with acid attackers in India. Organizations such as the Campaign and Struggle against Acid Attacks on Women (CSAAAW) are fighting to get acid attacks recognised as a separate crime and an extension of other forms of gender violence. Even a small state like Bangladesh realized the gravity of acid attacks and introduced death penalty against the crime. The Indian government has promised a new law to tackle increasing acid attacks, but that brings no cheer to those who know all too well what they are fighting against a system of hierarchies that rationalises violence. The problem is not acid but the thinking of men that they can control and dictate terms to the women in their lives. There is a need of a law that can restrict the sale of acid and bring offenders to justice. Law only cannot correct these social imbalances there is need that these laws should be implemented in true spirit.

Dowry deaths are also frequent in India.  This is the worst crime against the women next to rape. A married girl is burnt to death or killed or tortured by her in-laws and husband for not providing enough gifts or money to them by her parents. Every day 50 cases of dowry related violence are reported and every 3rd minute a case of violence against women is registered in India. Apart from these several women in the tribal areas of India are killed on the pretext of practicing witchcraft. Low casts girls especially dalits in their childhood are made Devdasis to serve God in the temple and they have to leave their home and stay in the temple complex. These girls grew up in the temples and are exploited afterwards

Honour killings are widespread in India and 95 percent of victims of such killings are women. Honour killings in India are classified broadly into two segments, those undertaken by families to protect the honour of individual families and those ordered by caste panchayats to protect caste honour. History of honour killings showed that the victims were beaten to death or pushed into a corn bin. In some cases, the women were asked to get into a narrow tunnel which would be covered with a slab so that they would die of suffocation. Women who were perceived to sully family honour were either murdered or forced to commit suicide. In some cases, unprivileged and dispossessed families living in a feudal society murdered girls the moment they felt they would not be able to protect them from the evil intentions of an all-powerful local zamindar or a chieftain. Brinda Karat MP and CPI (M) Polit Bureau member said, “I had asked a question in parliament on the number of killings related to honour that had taken place so far and the reply I received from the government was that they do not recognize such a category and, therefore, there was no separate collection of such data”. There is no legal definition of the term honour killing or honour crime. As a result, the perpetrators of such crimes more often than not get away with murder, torture, assault, and violation of laws regarding atrocities committed on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. And they continue to commit them with impunity.

There is a need that Indian government should take urgent measures to create awareness through education on the need to end such social crimes against women and initiate comprehensive measures to curb honour killings, acid attacking, rape and dowry deaths etc. In India, there is no respect for women, Dalits and minorities. The government needs to realise that acid attacks and other brutal assaults on women are a manifestation of an ingrained inequality. These attacks are not just about the women they target, they are also about the society that allows such attacks, the hierarchies it has internalised and the voices of protest it has silenced.

RAW’s Dangerous Plan of WMDs


By Sajjad Shaukat

Since 9/11 tragedy, western high officials and their media have been propagating in the world that Pakistan-based Islamic militants can use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) inside the US and Europe. In this context, in connivance with Israeli secret agency, Mossad, Indian secret agency, RAW intensified its propaganda campaign against Pakistan. In this regard, RAW also got the support of strong Indo-Israeli-lobbies, working in the US and Europe.

Impressed by the propaganda launched by the secret agents of RAW, in the recent past, while manipulating Taliban’s advances beyond Swat, west misperceived that Pakistan could be overtaken by the extremists who could also possess nuclear weapons. On April 21 this year, a report of the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank, blamed: “The geographic proximity of Pakistan’s nuclear programme to these sophisticated terrorists and the recent history of illicit transfers of material and know-how pose a unique threat.”

On the other side, Pakistan’s strong assurance about the safety of nuclear weapons, and successful military operations which flushed the Taliban out of Buner, Dir and Swat castigated the nefarious designs of RAW. Meanwhile, Indian endeavour to isolate Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai carnage of November 26 was also thwarted.

It was owing to the victory of military operations which broke the backbone of the Taliban militants that American and western high officials have been highly appreciating Pakistan’s forces, donating million of dollars for the IDPs. Besides other western leaders, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and US Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief Gen David Petraeus praised Pakistan’s armed forces in achieving quick success against the insurgents. 

Frustrated in isolating Islamabad, Indian RAW has made a most dangerous plan against Pakistan. Certain reports suggest that Indian RAW in connivance with Israeli Mossad has planned to use weapons of mass destructions inside the US homeland and major European countries. Particularly employment of these fatal weapons against NATO forces in Afghanistan are also part of this plan. The main aim behind is to implicate Pakistan for having allegedly using these chemical, biological and nuclear weapons through some Taliban militants.

A number of developments endorse these facts. As regards the acquisition of WMDs, some Indian army officers and RAW agents are already in cooperation with the Hindu fundamentalist organizations. In this connection, last year, arrest of a serving Lt. Col. Srikant Purohit and a retired army Major Samir Kulkarniand along with two of the suspects, having close ties with prominent politicians of BJP, VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal indicated collaboration between Hindu extremists and army officers, covertly backed by RAW. In this respect, investigation of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra disclosed that these army officials helped train the Hindu terrorists and provided them with the military-grade explosive RDX, used in the Malegaon bombings and including other Indian cities.

Besides, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International had charged the Indian Gujarat state administration for officially supporting the massive massacre of Muslims in in 2002. Demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 is another instance of this kind. Nevertheless, in all these events RAW played a key role cladestinely.

All these developments prove that despite tight security, RAW could provide the Hindu terrorists with unconventional weapons. 

RAW might have already obtained these fatal weapons as past record of Indian proliferation show. Some months ago, death of India’s nuclear scientist, Lokanathan Mahalingam raised new apprehension in this regard. He was missed from the scenario and after a couple of days; his dead body was recovered from the Kali River. Indian police concocted a story that Mahalingam had committed suicide by jumping into the river. It is a big joke to hide some real facts behind his death because wisdom proves that if an educated person decides to commit suicide, he will definitely adopt a soft way to eliminate his life. Notably, Dr. Haleema Saadia disclosed that death of the scientist is a conspiracy�as soon as his dead body was found, within no time; the police had announced that Mahalingam had committed suicide.

In July 1998, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seized eight Kg. of nuclear material from Arun, an engineer in Chennai including two other engineers. It was reported that the uranium was stolen from an atomic research center. On November 7, 2000, IAEA revealed that Indian police had seized 57 pounds of uranium and arrested two men for illicit trafficking of radioactive material. IAEA had remarked that Indian civil nuclear facilities were vulnerable to thefts.

On January 26, 2003, CNN pointed out that Indian company, NEC Engineers Private Ltd. shipped 10 consignments to Iraq, containing highly sensitive equipments entailing titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps. Indian investigators acknowledged that the company falsified customs documents to get its shipments out of India.

In 2004, when the issue of international nuclear black market came to surface, Pakistani nuclear scientist, Dr. A.Q. Khan was only blamed by the US-led west for proliferation activities by neglecting the western nationals and especially those of India. While in February, same year, India’s Ambassador to Libya, Dinkar Srivastava revealed that New Delhi was investigating that retired Indian scientists could possibly be engaged in “high technology programs” for financial gains during employment in the Libyan government.

On June 12, 2004, Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC), an American company was fined US $ 300,000 for exporting a nuclear component to the Bhaba Atomic Research Center in India.

In December 2005, United States imposed sanctions on two Indian firms for selling missile goods and chemical arms material to Iran in violation of India’s commitment to prevent proliferation. In the same year, Indian scientists, Dr. Surendar and Y. S. R Prasad had been blacklisted by Washington due to their involvement in nuclear theft. In December 2006, a container packed with radioactive material had been stolen from an Indian fortified research atomic facility near Mumbai.

Nonetheless, in collaboration with the RAW officials, smuggling of these fatal weapons has continued intermittently by the Indians.

R. Peter and D. Sagan in the book, ‘Planning the Unthinkable’ remark that unconventional weapons could serve specific objectives of terrorists for which conventional weapons are less suited.

Although these lethal poisons seem to be mysterious, yet still could be within the reach of some Hindu terrorists with the help of RAW.

With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, weapons of mass disintegration and their components are easier to acquire. The fears are widespread that unemployed Russian scientists who disappeared might have provided RAW officials with expertise and material regarding these devices. RAW has also got these destructive weapons from extremist Jews and Israeli Mossad. Such chemical and radiological materials could have also been smuggled inside India by the Hindu fundamentalists with the covert backing of RAW. This agency might have already purchased the same from the global black market.

With the help of RAW, these Hindu terrorists of BJP, VHP, RSS, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal might have overcome the obstacles in the acquisition of the weapons of mass destruction. RAW could have also arranged for them ‘dirty nuclear bombs.’

While, western public is already biased against the Muslims, especially Pakistan owing to failure of their governments against war on terror particularly in Afghanistan, Indian RAW has decided to avail this golden opportunity by obtaining weapons of mass destruction secretly, and using them in the US and Europe including their employment against the NATO forces in Afghanistan. RAW’s sole aim is to provocate Americans against Pakistan which is the only Islamic nuclear country, threatening Indian hegemony in the region. Thus Indian RAW could create a dangerous misunderstanding in which US could also use small nuclear weapons in Afghanistan and our tribal areas which it considers sanctuaries of Al Qaeda-related terrorists. And Pakistan could also be asked to rollback its atomic programme.

Now, the right hour has come that the US and other major powers must pay full attention on the activities of RAW and Hindu terrorism in respect of weapons of mass destruction, if they want to stop a vast catastrophe in the world.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations. Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Pakistan surprised over UK demand of "do more"

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said that Pakistan is surprised over UK's demand of "do more", local media reported Monday.
    Basit said those posing statements regarding whereabouts of the Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden had better share with Pakistan the information about him if possessed.
    The spokesman said Pakistan has either killed or arrested as many as 700 members of Al-Qaeda during last seven years and none must doubt Pakistan's efforts to curb terrorism.
    "Nobody knows the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden and if any one knows, he ought to inform Pakistan at government level," he concluded.
    Responding to the statement by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanding Pakistan to "do more" and tracking down Osama Bin Laden, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Monday that "On one hand, the world community including Britain praises Pakistan in its efforts on war on terror and appreciates its efforts in military operations while on the other side, they ask for more."
    "If they ask to do more, it seems an out of context thing," said Gilani, who left Islamabad on Monday for a four-day official visit to Germany and the United Kingdom.

Sunday, 29 November 2009

Maoists growing stronger


The fight is between 7,000-8,000 armed Maoist rebels versus 60,000-70,000 security personnel. But the enemy is "incisive, self critical and educative", armed with sophisticated weaponry and is constantly changing tactic in what is increasingly become a war of the mind, says the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief.
As the government gears up for a massive offensive against the guerrillas, top officials of the CRPF say the guerrillas are "growing stronger" and must not be underestimated.
"They are changing their tactics depending upon what we are doing," CRPF Director General A.S. Gill told IANS in an interview.
Giving an example, he said they have increased the usage of pressure mines. "They are also using sharpened iron nails. They have dug ditches in jungles and covered it with normal grass after hiding nails inside. Though these nails do not kill any trooper, it affects swift movement of the security agencies," Gill said.
The Maoists, he said, were also avoiding direct contact with security forces. "They just pass from nearby areas," added Gill, who heads one of the world's largest paramilitary forces. The CRPF has 207 battalions with a strength of over 200,000 personnel.
The security forces had also changed strategy to minimise operational casualties from improvised explosives used by the guerrillas.
"For a long time, we did not acknowledge that the Maoists were growing stronger, but there is a greater realisation now. We have changed our tactics and training. Theatre specific training has also been introduced for the first time to enhance specific capabilities in fighting the problems of militancy and insurgency," he said.
The CRPF was also raising 10 new commando battalions and acquiring the best available weapons and equipment to fight the guerrillas.
"We will have Maoists on the run very soon. The areas under their control would be taken back," he promised.
His colleague, CRPF Special Director General Vijay Raman, added: "We are facing an enemy which is fighting from the brain. They are very incisive, self critical and educative. The documents seized from them shows the meticulous planning behind their strikes."
Raman is a celebrated police officer who has been appointed by the home ministry as national coordinator in the anti-Maoist campaign.
Though the government has not specified any time frame for the launch of the nationwide operation against the guerrillas, it is believed that the offensive will begun in March next year.
Asked how long would the operations last, Raman said: "No such time frame could be set. The task is very challenging and it might take some time."
Estimating that about 7,000-8,000 armed Maoist cadres would be up in arms against 60,000-70,000 security personnel, CRPF chief Gill listed what makes the guerrillas formidable enemies.
"They are armed with light machine guns (LMG), AK-47s, AK-56s, Insas rifles, satellite phones, modern communication gadgets. It also believed that some of the top rungs have managed to acquire bulletproof jackets," he said.
"They are in touch with anti-national elements in northeastern states and are getting weapons from them. The people in the northeast are getting weapons and money from across the border. They are also in touch with Maoists in Nepal and extorting money from miners to fund their activities," he added.
Gill said the Maoists enjoy the advantage of having a significant presence in each village of their stronghold states. "We would be also focusing on breaking up their information network."
The CRPF that has been dealing with internal security challenges all across the country has this year gunned down 70 terrorists, 56 Maoists and 53 extremists in northeast. During these operations it also incurred heavy loss by sacrificing its nearly 200 men.
Troops from other central paramilitary forces like Indo-Tibet Border Police, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal have started grouping and upgrading their infrastructure in preparation for the offensive against the Maoists.
They were also familiarising themselves with the terrain and undergoing training. The government has left commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) out of the operation.

Saturday, 28 November 2009

Indian Cold Start doctrine


Strategic alliance with USA helps India in fulfilling its grandeur plans to become the regional and world power. In 1971, Soviet Union had helped India in achieving a false military victory and in truncating Pakistan. Indians now hope that America would help in fulfilling their dream of either reducing Pakistan into an Indian satellite or removing it from the face of world map. It is in this context that Indo-US-UK-Israeli-Afghan nexus has been formed in Kabul which is dedicated towards harming Pakistan. Both covert means and media campaign are complementing each other to achieve stated objectives. The Indo-western media has embarked upon a malicious campaign to besmirch the reputation of institutions of Pakistan and project it as a failing state. All sorts of fairytales are fabricated and pasted in leading newspapers and magazines controlled by the Jews. Deadlines are given and each time the given the given date expires uneventfully; a new deadline of collapse of Pakistan is given with a heavy heart but with renewed hopes.
Several scenarios are in circulation ranging from truncation to break up in small quasi states. Independent Balochistan and Pashtunistan figure high in their fanciful plans. Each of the self-perceived scenario is linked to Islamic threat in northwest of Pakistan. One of the principle objectives of India is to weaken ISI and cut its long-arm capability drastically so that it is neither in a position to harm India through covert means or to provide first line defence to Pakistan effectively against external subversive threats. Pakistan specific Indian consulates in Afghanistan and tens of RAW infested training, educational and cultural centres have nothing else to do except to devise different means to cause harm to Pakistan and destabilise it.

To give concrete shape to the chalked out plans, the said nexus unfolded a comprehensive subversive plan in January 2002 to systematically destabilize Pakistan. Fuel was constantly sprinkled in interior Balochistan, FATA and Swat to inflame these regions. Brahamdagh Bugti based in Kandahar and patronized by RAW-CIA-RAAM is coordinating sabotage and subversion in Balochistan. Southern Punjab and Karachi are planned to be inflamed in the final phase to spread anarchy throughout the country so as to pave way for disablement of our nuclear weapons and to clear the way for India to launch its military instrument. Washington’s continued insistence to make India a key player in Afghanistan and to induct its 150,000 troops is meant to enable Indo-Afghan forces to exploit yet another avenue from the northwest and catch Pakistan in a double pincer.

Indian Cold Start doctrine envisages formation of battle groups supported by dedicated artillery, combat air support and tactical nuclear weapons. It perceives launching 15-16 limited attacks along the entire length of eastern border and Line of Control (LoC) with battle groups of two mechanised regiments and an armour regiment or vice versa. Each battle group is mandated to capture an objective of tactical importance and to exploit success as far as possible but remaining well away from core areas so as to restrain Pakistan from using its nuclear response. Having dispersed the defender on a wide front in battle of frontiers, trying to defend every inch of the territory, subject to successes achieved, and deflection or commitment of our strategic reserves, it would then launch main and secondary efforts with its strike formations in two sectors. Indian military would achieve air superiority in main effort area for a specific period of break in and break out battle towards deeper objectives.

After Mumbai attacks, India continues to remain in an offensive mode and is in no mood to recommence stalled peace talks. Pakistan’s concerted efforts spread over one year to make India see reason have gone in vain. Flustered and frustrated by quick successes achieved by Pakistan Army against Indian funded and trained terrorists in Swat and in South Waziristan, Indian leaders have taken a new line that runaway militants after getting defeated have become a security hazard for India. Since last May, they are wailing like a frightened child in anticipation to a self-imagined terrorist attack emanating from Pakistan on the pattern of Mumbai-like carnage. When asked to provide intelligence so that the mishap could be thwarted they refuse to divulge the basis of their anxiety. Indian media has alleged that Dave Headly and Tahawar Hussain Rana suspected for terrorism in USA were linked with Mumbai attacks and that Dave was observed sniffing around Indian nuclear sites. Accordingly, Indian authorities have sounded a red alert in affected areas where their nuclear material is stored to avert a possible attack. To further up the ante, Indian Army Chief Deepak Kapoor has sounded a warning that a limited war under the nuclear overhang is still very much a reality, at least in Indian subcontinent. Our foreign office spokesman rightly remarked that it reaffirms Indian dangerous and offensive nuclear doctrine.

In the wake of Pakistan going nuclear in 1998 in response to Indian nuclear blackmail, which has made the option of all out war almost impossible, Indian military has been feverishly working on its Cold Start doctrine which was shaped in consultation with Israeli military. The three services of India have also been acquiring latest state-of-art weapon systems from all over the world and upgrading its nuclear arsenal as a consequence of which the conventional and nuclear balance has tilted heavily in favour of India. Simultaneous to the efforts by the military, RAW has been hectically engaged in weakening and destabilising Pakistan from within. Its focus has been towards enfeebling and discrediting Pakistan Army and ISI. Application of military instrument has been made conditional to success achieved through covert operations against these two pillars. India observed the pulse of Pakistan for ten months in 2002 after manufacturing a terrorist attack on Indian parliament in December 2001 and again after Mumbai carnage in November 2008 that was also cooked up. Both times, it found Pakistan Army well poised and resilient and had to beat a retreat.

India may be visualising that this time Pakistan Army has got deeply embroiled in several troubled spots and is not in a position to withdraw as was the case last time. It is hoping that Pashtun and Baloch militants would be fighting Pakistan Army in case of war with India. It is satisfied with its successful policy of encirclement and destabilisation of Pakistan resulting in enfeeblement of its economy. It considers overall geo-political environment favourable. It considers the time ripe for devising another drama to justify its troop build up. The purpose will be:
  1. Coerce the leadership to extract further concessions as it had extorted after military standoff in 2002-03.
  2. Relieve pressure on Tehrik-e-Taliban and make it recapture lost ground.
  3. Demolish Balochistan package which has the potential of defusing separatist movement sponsored by India.
  4. Rejuvenate demoralised RAW agents operating within Pakistan.
  5. Force Pakistan to liquidate Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad and to hand over alleged culprits of Mumbai carnage to India.
  6. Force Pakistan to fight terrorism as dictated by USA and India.
  7. Further weaken economy of Pakistan.
  8. Force Pakistan to accept pre-eminence of India in Afghanistan and in the region and to allow its trade with Afghanistan through Wagah.
  9. Solve Kashmir dispute by accepting LoC as permanent border.

In case Pakistan refuse to be cowed down, it might initiate Cold Start but it would be subject to full assurance by USA that it would prevent Pakistan Army from assembly and move of nukes to deployment areas.
War game codenamed Azm-e-Nau was conducted to tackle emerging Indian threat along eastern front revolving around Cold Start but did not take into account possible ingress from western border and expansion of limited war into full-fledged war. In 1971 in East Pakistan, India first weakened Pakistan Army contingent through civil war and psychological operations. Indian military then induced threat perception which forced us to take up an exaggerated forward posture all along 1400 miles border to prevent any piece of land falling into enemy hands. Dispersed in penny packets we were strong nowhere. Indian offensive launched on 21 November from multiple directions succeeded in making 23 lodgement areas across the border. In our bid to liquidate or contain the ingresses we committed everything we had in the battle of frontiers. After an operational pause and having fixed our forces in compartments, Indian forces under massive air cover launched main, secondary and auxiliary offensives from three different directions on 4 December and raced towards Dacca. Making a dispassionate comparison of East Pakistan offensive with Cold Start one finds certain similarities.

Pakistan has already suffered grievously because of its exaggerated policy of appeasement and cannot afford to cede more ground and that too at the cost of its sovereignty and dignity. We need to condition our forces and structure them organisationally to fight two front wars together with internal threat in the southwest and northwest. Blissfully, Pakistan Army is in its finest trim and is in position to meet any challenge resolutely. Having found out foolproof evidence of involvement of RAW in aiding and abetting terrorism in Pakistan, and the US and UK complicit in the evil game of destabilising, denuclearising and balkanising Pakistan, should we still be imprudently calling these so-called friends as our well-wishers and relying on them? I have no doubt in my mind that the US would not betray Israel or India but would certainly betray Pakistan and leave it in a lurch once again.

Same go for Afghanistan under US puppet Karzai who has provided Afghan soil to foreign agencies for launching covert operations against Pakistan. He doesn’t realise that India, whom he considers as a sincere and dear friend is gradually working towards reducing Afghanistan into its client state. If US Administration is negotiating with Afghan Taliban, we have every right to keep in touch with them particularly after their worthy role in hour of crisis. While US military opted to vacate border check posts, Afghan Taliban refused to come to the aid of fake Taliban in South Waziristan.

How long will we follow humiliating policy of appeasement which is ruining Pakistan? Isn’t it high time to sound the bugle and chase out Blackwater type non-actors from the soil of Pakistan before they swoop at our nukes and whisk them away? We need to guard our nukes with utmost vigilance and cut those hands that try to get near them. Operation Rah-e-Nijat which has proceeded excellently should clear South Waziristan of the presence of hardcore local and foreign terrorists speedily. After returning extra forces to peace locations, process of rehabilitation of people of South Waziristan to be put into full gear. These assets must be handled with utmost care and affection. They deserve an even better package then Balochistan since none among them raised the slogan of separation or sought materialistic gains.
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Asif Haroon Raja is a defence and political analyst based at Rawalpindi and author of several books. Email: ah.raja@yahoo.com

Thursday, 26 November 2009

FBI Wants Americans to Work at Mossad


Stewart David Nozette, a high-ranking scientist, who had access to top secret information, was arrested by FBI agents on October 19. Israeli news agencies said that Mr. Nozette was arrested after he had agreed to work with the Israeli intelligence.
An FBI agent established a contact with the scientist having introduced himself as a Mossad officer. The disguised agent said that the scientist could deliver US secrets to Israel including those about satellite warning systems.
Stewart Nozette was trying to obtain the highest possible price for his services. As soon as the scientist agreed to “cooperate” he was arrested.
Israeli authorities have not commented the arrest of the US scientist yet. Nozette will be delivered to a Columbia district court October 20 for court hearings. If the scientist is found guilty, he may spend the rest of his life in jail.
Stewart Nozette, had access to top secret information from 1989 to 2006. The information, US experts said, touched upon the national security of the United States.
ozette had worked at the Energy Department, NASA and, in 1989 and 1990, the National Space Council in the president's office. He developed the Clementine bi-static radar experiment that purportedly discovered water on the south pole of the moon. He worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he designed highly advanced technology, from approximately 1990 to 1999, the Associated Press reported.
US experts believe that Nozette’s arrest was not aimed against Israel. However, Israeli observers say that the latest spy scandal will exacerbate complicated relations between Israel and the United States.
Anatoly Utkin, a senior expert with the Institute for the USA and Canada of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with Pravda.Ru that the arrest of the US scientist would not affect the nation’s relations with Israel.
“It’s not the first story like that, such incidents have already happened before. Israeli special services were trying to obtain some information about secret technologies in the United States, which is not surprising at all. Israel is surrounded with Arab states, which are being rather hostile to the Jewish State. The USA is one of the world’s most technologically developed states, and its renowned Silicone Valley, where many Israeli scientists work, attracts a lot of attention in many countries of the world.
“The previous spy scandals did not affect the relations between the USA and Israel. One should bear in mind the fact that the Jewish lobby is the strongest one in the USA.
Source: Pravda.Ru

We must be ready to fight Hindus:says Nizami ( Editor-in-Chief The Nation and Chairman Nazria Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami )



Editor-in-Chief The Nation and Chairman Nazria Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami has said that we should remain well-prepared for war against Hindus as they were casting bad eye on Pakistan and our independence, which is a blessing of Allah.
He was speaking at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan on the 53rd death anniversary of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan on Tuesday.
Majid Nizami said Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was a versatile personality as he was a journalist, poet, politician and orator. He stood with the Quaid in Pakistan Movement.
He started a movement in the name of Masjid Shaheed Ganj and wanted to take over the mosque but it is a dilemma that after freedom, the Muslims could not secure this mosque due to tolerant attitude and it is still closed. It is neither Gurdawara nor mosque.
He said Zafar Ali Khan published his poems on Page One of the newspaper Zamindar and it fetched great circulation. He said Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust should secure Zamindar office and make it a memoir. Majid Nizami mentioned J Thunder aircraft handed over to PAF, which can fly high than Indian jets and India admitted that Pakistan has taken supremacy in air defence. There would be a war against India on waters because it is building dams on our rivers and the solution lies is smashing the dams by missiles.
As such we should be prepared for war. He said though war is not good thing but it is better to die by warring instead of dying with thirst and hunger. He said Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was great lover of the holy Prophet (PBUH).
Vice Chairman Nazria Pakistan Trust, Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad said that NPT is reminding the forgotten lesion of Pakistan Movement and its heroes. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was one of them. He fought for the Muslims particularly of the subcontinent. He remained successful whichever field he chose. He instantaneously translated Pakistan Resolution on the call of Quaid-e-Azam and formed Majlis-e-Ittehad-e-Millat.
Chairman Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust and provincial Ombudsman Khalid Mehmood said that those nations who do not remember their heroes and benefactors, stop producing heroes. He said the Trust has built mazar of Maulana and published all his poetry particularly the naatia poetry, which is great asset and a source for devotion to the holy Prophet (PBUH). Chief Executive Khabrain Group Zia Shahid said that NPT keeps these personalities alive. He paid tributes to Majid Nizami and said he was above the professional rivalries. He said a party is demanding abolition of word Islamic from the official name of Pakistan but it should not forget that we will never allow nor nobody could dare to do that for the sake of receiving aid from America. He said corrupt of Musharraf era should be taken to task. He said people are poor but our rulers are rich. US did not give aid under Kerry-Lugar Act to the government because it considered them corrupt. Our rulers should bring their money back to shed the loans. India do not want to talk to us but we are running after it for talks. Agreements are signed by weak nations and strong tore apart the agreements. President CPNE and chief editor daily Jinnah Khushnood Ali Khan said that PPP government, Army and Aiwan-e-Sadr have different viewpoint on India, which is our arch is our arch enemy. He said NAB victims should quit, as they are not our representatives. “I also do not recognise a government which do not celebrate days like Zafar Ali Khan’s.
Raja Masood Ali Khan said Nov 27 should be observed as Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Day. He said Maulana Zafar Ali Khan spent every third day average in jail. His father had command on Urdu, English, Persian and Arabic who trained Zafar Ali Khan in these languages. Columnist Rafique Dogar said that Maulana was present in 1906 meeting of ML in Dhaka. He was elected in 1937 elections.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

No Blackwater firm in Pakistan, asserts US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson


The US ambassador in Pakistan Anne W. Patterson Wednesday ruled out the presence of private US security firm Blackwater, adding the US officials and programs in Pakistan are solely aimed at serving people and Government of Pakistan.

According to a statement issued from the US embassy, she said there is no secret operating base in Karachi or anywhere in Pakistan nor are US troops of any command busy with any secret activity in the country.

An article in a US magazine alleging Washington's collusion with Blackwater or any other contracting firm were equally baseless and false, the embassy said.

"US government programs for Pakistan are open and transparent and function in partnership with the government of Pakistan," Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said in the statement.

"US personnel and programs in Pakistan have only one purpose - to assist the government and people of Pakistan as they face the complex challenges confronting their nation," she added.

India planning limited war against Pakistan


India is planning to launch a limited war against Pakistan, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

The FO’s statement follows Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor’s address during a defence seminar, where he said the possibility of a limited nuclear war was “very much a reality in South Asia”. “India has long been working on the so-called ‘Cold Start’ strategy and preparing for a limited war against Pakistan. General Kapoor’s statement confirms the hegemonic thrust of India’s nuclear doctrine,” Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said. He said Kapoor’s remarks only reaffirmed India’s dangerous and offensive nuclear designs.

Basit said the international community should take notice of the remarks and India’s long-term intentions, adding that major powers had a particular responsibility in this regard, and should ask India to refrain from steps that could affect the strategic balance in South Asia.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan was fully capable of safeguarding its national sovereignty and defending its borders. “As a responsible country, we will continue promoting peace and stability in South Asia on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” he said.